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Essential Oil: Variability, Environmental Conditions, Composition and Bioactivity

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A special issue of Molecules (ISSN 1420-3049). This special issue belongs to the section "Natural Products Chemistry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 October 2021) | Viewed by 42545

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Dr. Isabelle Bombarda

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Guest Editor

Institut Méditerranéen de Biodiversité et d'Ecologie marine et continentale, Marseille, France
Interests: natural product; secondary metabolites; essential oil; phenolic compound

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Essential oils are a complex matrix composed of numerous volatile compounds generally extracted from different parts of the plant (root, stem, leaves or flowers) by steam distillation. They are known to have various biological activities often attributed to their phenolic constituents. They have always been used in folk medicine and for food preservation. Today, many applications concern the use of essential oils as new natural sources of biological interest. Their chemical composition depends on cultivars, harvesting times, growing conditions, environmental factors, and extraction processes. Ensuring the reproducibility of essential oil’s quality requires controlling all these parameters.

This Special Issue will focus on the variability of essential oil’s composition in relation to climatic, soil factors, harvested times, etc., with an analytical approach to discriminate essential oil factors that influence variability and characterized indicators of authenticity. The use of a specific detector for the identification of chemical characterization of essential oils will also be of great interest. The aim of this Special Issue is to provide an overview of the demonstration of the synergistic effect between essential oil’s molecules or the synergistic effect of essential oils with existing drugs to strengthen biological activities. Finally, research on the impact of the domestication of plants on the chemical composition and biological activity of their essential oils will be appreciated for sustainable management of biodiversity.

Dr. Isabelle Bombarda
Guest Editor

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Keywords

essential oil
composition
biological activity
variability
environmental condition
synergistic effect

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Published Papers (8 papers)

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Research

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11 pages, 271 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Chemical Composition and Synergistic Potential of Mentha pulegium L. and Artemisia herba alba Asso. Essential Oils and Antibiotic against Multi-Drug Resistant Bacteria

by Fahima Bekka-Hadji, Isabelle Bombarda, Ferhat Djoudi, Sofiane Bakour and Abdelaziz Touati

Molecules 2022, 27(3), 1095; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27031095 - 7 Feb 2022

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 3119

Abstract

The essential oils were obtained by hydrodistillation from aerial parts of Mentha pulegium L. (M. pulegium L.) and Artemisia herba alba (A. herba alba) Asso. and analyzed by gas chromatography–flame ionization detector chromatograpy (GC–FID) and gaz chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). The antibacterial activities of the oils were determined by the disk diffusion method and a microdilution broth assay against six bacteria stains. The combinations of these essential oils with antibiotics were evaluated against two multi-drug-resistant bacteria strains: imipenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (IRAB S3310) and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA S19). The chemical analysis of M. pulegium essential oil revealed the presence of pulegone (74.8%) and neoisomenthol (10.0%). A. herba alba essential oil was characterized by camphor (32.0%), α-thujone (13.7%), 1,8-cineole (9.8%), β-thujone (5.0%), bornéol (3.8%), camphene (3.6%), and p-cymene (2.1%). All strains tested except Pseudomonas aeruginosa were susceptible to these oils. The combinations of essential oils with antibiotics exerted synergism, antagonism, or indifferent effects. The best effect was observed with A. herba alba essential oil in association with cefoxitin (CX) against MRSA S19. However, for IRAB S3310, the strongest synergistic effect was observed with M. pulegium in association with amikacin (AK). This study demonstrated that M. pulegium and A. herba alba essential oils have antibacterial activities which could be potentiated by antibiotics especially in the case of IRAB S3310. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Essential Oil: Variability, Environmental Conditions, Composition and Bioactivity)

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15 pages, 1628 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Method Validation and Evaluation of Safrole Persistence in Cowpea Beans Using Headspace Solid-Phase Microextraction and Gas Chromatography

by Maria Suely Siqueira Ferraz, Lêda Rita D’Antonino Faroni, Fernanda Fernandes Heleno, Adalberto Hipólito de Sousa, Lucas Henrique Figueiredo Prates and Alessandra Aparecida Zinato Rodrigues

Molecules 2021, 26(22), 6914; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26226914 - 16 Nov 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2377

Abstract

Bioinsecticides are regarded as important alternatives for controlling agricultural pests. However, few studies have determined the persistence of these compounds in stored grains. This study aimed at optimizing and validating a fast and effective method for extraction and quantification of residues of safrole (the main component of Piper hispidinervum essential oil) in cowpea beans. It also sought to assess the persistence of this substance in the grains treated by contact and fumigation. The proposed method used headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) and gas chromatography with a flame ionization detector (GC/FID). Factors such as temperature, extraction time and type of fiber were assessed to maximize the performance of the extraction technique. The performance of the method was appraised via the parameters selectivity, linearity, limit of detection (LOD), limit of quantification (LOQ), precision, and accuracy. The LOD and LOQ of safrole were 0.0057 and 0.019 μg kg⁻¹, respectively and the determination coefficient (R²) was >0.99. The relative recovery ranged from 99.26 to 104.85, with a coefficient of variation <15%. The validated method was applied to assess the persistence of safrole residue in grains, where concentrations ranged from 1.095 to 0.052 µg kg⁻¹ (contact) and from 2.16 to 0.12 µg kg ⁻¹ (fumigation). The levels measured up from the fifth day represented less than 1% of the initial concentration, proving that safrole have low persistence in cowpea beans, thus being safe for bioinsecticide use. Thus, this work is relevant not only for the extraction method developed, but also for the possible use of a natural insecticide in pest management in stored grains. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Essential Oil: Variability, Environmental Conditions, Composition and Bioactivity)

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17 pages, 1077 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Chemical Variability and In Vitro Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Leaf Essential Oil from Ivorian Isolona dewevrei (De Wild. & T. Durand) Engl. & Diels

by Didjour Albert Kambiré, Jean Brice Boti, Ahmont Claude Landry Kablan, Daouda Ballo, Mathieu Paoli, Virginie Brunini and Félix Tomi

Molecules 2021, 26(20), 6228; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26206228 - 15 Oct 2021

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1836

Abstract

The chemical variability and the in vitro anti-inflammatory activity of the leaf essential oil from Ivorian Isolona dewevrei were investigated for the first time. Forty-seven oil samples were analyzed using a combination of CC, GC(RI), GC-MS and ¹³C-NMR, thus leading to the identification of 113 constituents (90.8–98.9%). As the main components varied drastically from sample to sample, the 47 oil compositions were submitted to hierarchical cluster and principal components analyses. Three distinct groups, each divided into two subgroups, were evidenced. Subgroup I−A was dominated by (Z)-β-ocimene, β-eudesmol, germacrene D and (E)-β-ocimene, while (10βH)-1β,8β-oxido-cadina-4-ene, santalenone, trans-α-bergamotene and trans-β-bergamotene were the main compounds of Subgroup I−B. The prevalent constituents of Subgroup II−A were germacrene B, (E)-β-caryophyllene, (5αH,10βMe)-6,12-oxido-elema-1,3,6,11(12)-tetraene and γ-elemene. Subgroup II−B displayed germacrene B, germacrene D and (Z)-β-ocimene as the majority compounds. Germacrene D was the most abundant constituent of Group III, followed in Subgroup III−A by (E)-β-caryophyllene, (10βH)-1β,8β-oxido-cadina-4-ene, germacrene D-8-one, and then in Subgroup III−B by (Z)-β-ocimene and (E)-β-ocimene. The observed qualitative and quantitative chemical variability was probably due to combined factors, mostly phenology and season, then harvest site to a lesser extent. The lipoxygenase inhibition by a leaf oil sample was also evaluated. The oil IC₅₀ (0.020 ± 0.005 mg/mL) was slightly higher than the non-competitive lipoxygenase inhibitor NDGA IC₅₀ (0.013 ± 0.003 mg/mL), suggesting a significant in vitro anti-inflammatory potential. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Essential Oil: Variability, Environmental Conditions, Composition and Bioactivity)

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20 pages, 2200 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Comparison of Volatile Organic Compounds of Sideritis romana L. and Sideritis montana L. from Croatia

by Tihana Marić, Maja Friščić, Zvonimir Marijanović, Željan Maleš and Igor Jerković

Molecules 2021, 26(19), 5968; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26195968 - 1 Oct 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2294

Abstract

A study on the headspace volatile organic compounds (VOCs) profile of native populations of Sideritis romana L. and Sidertis montana L., Lamiaceae, from Croatia is reported herein, to elucidate the phytochemical composition of taxa from this plant genus, well-known for traditional use in countries of the Mediterranean and the Balkan region. Headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME), using divinylbenzene/carboxene/polydimethylsiloxane (DVB/CAR/PDMS) or polydimethylsiloxane/divinylbenzene (PDMS/DVB) fiber, coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was applied to analyze the dried aerial parts of six native populations in total. Furthermore, principal component analysis (PCA) was conducted on the volatile constituents with an average relative percentage ≥1.0% in at least one of the samples. Clear separation between the two species was obtained using both fiber types. The VOCs profile for all investigated populations was characterized by sesquiterpene hydrocarbons, followed by monoterpene hydrocarbons, except for one population of S. romana, in which monoterpene hydrocarbons predominated. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the VOCs composition of natural populations of S. romana and S. montana from Croatia as well as the first reported HS-SPME/GC-MS analysis of S. romana and S. montana worldwide. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Essential Oil: Variability, Environmental Conditions, Composition and Bioactivity)

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17 pages, 10394 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Chemical Composition, Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of Clary Sage and Coriander Essential Oils Produced on Polluted and Amended Soils-Phytomanagement Approach

by Robin Raveau, Joël Fontaine, Anthony Verdin, Loris Mistrulli, Frédéric Laruelle, Sophie Fourmentin and Anissa Lounès-Hadj Sahraoui

Molecules 2021, 26(17), 5321; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26175321 - 1 Sep 2021

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 3175

Abstract

The potential of essential oils (EO), distilled from two aromatic plants—clary sage (Salvia sclarea L.) and coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.)—in view of applications as natural therapeutic agents was evaluated in vitro. These two were cultivated on a trace element (TE)-polluted soil, as part of a phytomanagement approach, with the addition of a mycorrhizal inoculant, evaluated for its contribution regarding plant establishment, growth, and biomass production. The evaluation of EO as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory, with considerations regarding the potential influence of the TE-pollution and of the mycorrhizal inoculation on the EO chemical compositions, were the key focuses. Besides, to overcome EO bioavailability and target accession issues, the encapsulation of EO in β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) was also assessed. Firstly, clary sage EO was characterized by high proportions of linalyl acetate (51–63%) and linalool (10–17%), coriander seeds EO by a high proportion of linalool (75–83%) and lesser relative amounts of γ-terpinene (6–9%) and α-pinene (3–5%) and coriander aerial parts EO by 2-decenal (38–51%) and linalool (22–39%). EO chemical compositions were unaffected by both soil pollution and mycorrhizal inoculation. Of the three tested EO, the one from aerial parts of coriander displayed the most significant biological effects, especially regarding anti-inflammatory potential. Furthermore, all tested EO exerted promising antioxidant effects (IC₅₀ values ranging from 9 to 38 g L⁻¹). However, EO encapsulation in β-CD did not show a significant improvement of EO biological properties in these experimental conditions. These findings suggest that marginal lands polluted by TE could be used for the production of EO displaying faithful chemical compositions and valuable biological activities, with a non-food perspective. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Essential Oil: Variability, Environmental Conditions, Composition and Bioactivity)

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14 pages, 13679 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Variability of the Chemical Composition and Bioactivity between the Essential Oils Isolated from Male and Female Specimens of Hedyosmum racemosum (Ruiz & Pav.) G. Don

by Eduardo Valarezo, Vladimir Morocho, Luis Cartuche, Fernanda Chamba-Granda, Magdaly Correa-Conza, Ximena Jaramillo-Fierro and Miguel Angel Meneses

Molecules 2021, 26(15), 4613; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26154613 - 29 Jul 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2204

Abstract

Hedyosmum racemosum (Ruiz & Pav.) G. is a native species of Ecuador used in traditional medicine for treatment of rheumatism, bronchitis, cold, cough, asthma, bone pain, and stomach pain. In this study, fresh H. racemosum leaves of male and female specimens were collected and subjected to hydrodistillation for the extraction of the essential oil. The chemical composition of male and female essential oil was determined by gas chromatography–gas chromatography equipped with a flame ionization detector and coupled to a mass spectrometer using a non-polar and a polar chromatographic column. The antibacterial activity was assayed against five Gram-positive and two Gram-negative bacteria, and two dermatophytes fungi. The scavenging radical properties of the essential oil were evaluated by DPPH and ABTS assays. The chemical analysis allowed us to identify forty-three compounds that represent more than 98% of the total composition. In the non-polar and polar column, α-phellandrene was the principal constituent in male (28.24 and 25.90%) and female (26.47 and 23.90%) essential oil. Other main compounds were methyl chavicol, germacrene D, methyl eugenol, and α-pinene. Female essential oil presented a strong activity against Klebsiella pneumoniae (ATCC 9997) with an minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 500 μg/mL and a scavenging capacity SC₅₀ of 800 µg/mL. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Essential Oil: Variability, Environmental Conditions, Composition and Bioactivity)

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9 pages, 968 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Chemical Composition and Anticholinesterase Activity of the Essential Oil of Leaves and Flowers from the Ecuadorian Plant Lepechinia paniculata (Kunth) Epling

by María Fernanda Panamito, Nicole Bec, Valeria Valdivieso, Melissa Salinas, James Calva, Jorge Ramírez, Christian Larroque and Chabaco Armijos

Molecules 2021, 26(11), 3198; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26113198 - 27 May 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2884

Abstract

This work aimed to study the chemical composition, cholinesterase inhibitory activity, and enantiomeric analysis of the essential oil from the aerial parts (leaves and flowers) of the plant Lepechinia paniculata (Kunth) Epling from Ecuador. The essential oil (EO) was obtained through steam distillation. The chemical composition of the oil was evaluated by gas chromatography, coupled to mass spectrometry (GC–MS) and a flame ionization detector (GC-FID). The analyses led to the identification of 69 compounds in total, of which 40 were found in the leaves and 29 were found in the flowers of the plant. The major components found in the oil were 1,8-Cineole, β-Pinene, δ-3-Carene, α-Pinene, (E)-Caryophyllene, Guaiol, and β-Phellandrene. Flower essential oil showed interesting selective inhibitory activity against both enzymes AChE (28.2 ± 1.8 2 µg/mL) and BuChE (28.8 ± 1.5 µg/mL). By contrast, the EO of the leaves showed moderate mean inhibitory activity against acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE), with IC₅₀ values of 38.2 ± 2.9 µg/mL and 47.4 ± 2.3 µg/mL, respectively. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Essential Oil: Variability, Environmental Conditions, Composition and Bioactivity)

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Review

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25 pages, 1867 KiB

Open AccessReview

Clove Essential Oil (Syzygium aromaticum L. Myrtaceae): Extraction, Chemical Composition, Food Applications, and Essential Bioactivity for Human Health

by José Nabor Haro-González, Gustavo Adolfo Castillo-Herrera, Moisés Martínez-Velázquez and Hugo Espinosa-Andrews

Molecules 2021, 26(21), 6387; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26216387 - 22 Oct 2021

Cited by 179 | Viewed by 23081

Abstract

Clove (Syzygium aromaticum L. Myrtaceae) is an aromatic plant widely cultivated in tropical and subtropical countries, rich in volatile compounds and antioxidants such as eugenol, β-caryophyllene, and α-humulene. Clove essential oil has received considerable interest due to its wide application in the perfume, cosmetic, health, medical, flavoring, and food industries. Clove essential oil has biological activity relevant to human health, including antimicrobial, antioxidant, and insecticidal activity. The impacts of the extraction method (hydrodistillation, steam distillation, ultrasound-assisted extraction, microwave-assisted extraction, cold pressing, and supercritical fluid extraction) on the concentration of the main volatile compounds in clove essential oil and organic clove extracts are shown. Eugenol is the major compound, accounting for at least 50%. The remaining 10–40% consists of eugenyl acetate, β-caryophyllene, and α-humulene. The main biological activities reported are summarized. Furthermore, the main applications in clove essential oil in the food industry are presented. This review presents new biological applications beneficial for human health, such as anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anesthetic, antinociceptive, and anticancer activity. This review aims to describe the effects of different methods of extracting clove essential oil on its chemical composition and food applications and the biological activities of interest to human health. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Essential Oil: Variability, Environmental Conditions, Composition and Bioactivity)

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